Elevator meter and indicator.



C. L. DUENKEL. ELBVATOR METER AND' INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1908. 993.766. 23.161119111111111 3.0, 1911.

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. ELEVATDR METER AND INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1908,

Patented May 30, 1911'.

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Am w l W 1w U. L. DUENKEL. ELEVATOR METER AND INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED A1 R.9. 19o8A 993,766. Patented may so, 1911.

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C. L. DUENKEL. ELEVATDR METER `ANI) INDICATOR. APPLICATION .FILED APR. 9. 190e.

993,766. Patented MayBO, 1911.

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PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. DUENKEL, 0F EAST ORANGE,

NEWUJERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF `'IlO HENRY AUGUST VERGES, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ELEVATOR METER AND INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented. May 30, 1911.

Application led April 9, 1908. Serial No. 426,033.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. DUENKEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of `the city of East Orange, m the county of Essex and State of New J ersev, United States of America, have in#v vented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevator Meters and Indicators, of which the following is a specitication.

` My invention relates to an elevator meter and indicator for the purpose of registering and showing the speed and distance of travel of elevator cars.

To these ends the invention consists in the arrangement and construction of parts described in the following specification, the novel features whereof are pointed out. in claims. Y ,l

Referring to the drawings, lfigure 1 is a front elevation of a registering` and indi- Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a driving or actuating mechanism which I use in conjunction with my meter. Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation 'of some of the parts 0f said actuating mechanism showing the manner in which the ropes are arranged. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified form of actuating mechanism. Eig. G is a sectional side elevation of one form of continuous motion device which I use in conjunction with my invention. Fig. 7 is a sectional front elevation through the line 7-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. S is a development of certain portions of the mechanism shown in Figs. (i and 7, illustrating the principles 0n which this device operates. F ig. 9 is a sectional end elevation of a modified form of continuous motion device. Fig.'10 is a front elevation of the form of continuous motion device illustrated in Fig. t). Fig. 11 is a developed sectional view of a portion of the form of continuous 'motion device illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, showing more clearly the method 'of its operation` Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an elevator car meter and indicator device and actuating mechanism show ng the manner 1n which these parts are l .mnected together. Fig., 13 is a front ele ation of the same parts connected togetln-r m the same manner. Fig. ltis a front elevation Aot an elevator car meter and indicator deA vice together with a modified form of actuatingl mechanism. Fig. 1 5 .is a` diagram-- matic representation in side elevation, of the parts .shown in `Eig. 14. Fig. 16 illustrates in side elevation' a still furthermoditication of the arrangement of the parts which comprise my invention. Fig. 17 i's al front elevation of a tension device which I use in conjunctionwith the other parts of' my apparatus. Fig. 1S is a sectional side elevation of this device. Fig. 19 is section ot' a pawl arrangement used in conjunction`y with this tension device, the -section in this tigure being taken through the line 19'-19 of Fig. 17. Fig. 20 is a sectional front elevation of a portion of a tension device similar to that shown in Fig. 17 showing in this case a modilied form of holding mecha'- nism. Fig. 21 is a similar view of another modification of the holding device which I sometimes use in conjunctionl with the tension ar 'angcment which is herein shown.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

10 designates a casing inclosing the registering and` indicating mechanism. -A shaft 11 which is actuated by the Inovement of an elevator car in a manner which will be fully described hereinafter, runs in the base ofv this casing. A worm gear aiiixed to this shaft is in mesh with a large wheel gear 13 centrally pivoted within the casing 10. The lower portion of the casing is so constructed that the worm gear may be surrounded by an oil bath. A pinion 1-1 is connected to run with the gear 13. This "pinion is in mesh with a gear 15, the journal of which is carried through the face of -the casing and carries an indicating `point'err`16. A graduated dial 17 is provided directly behind this pointer.

1S, 184, 18E-',"1'8' and 18D designate a plurality of small indicating dials. A star wheel`19 is 'provided with one of these dials and is in the path of movement of a vpin 15A projecting from the gear 15.

lThe parts above described are arranged to register the 'distance of travel of an elevator car.A The various connections are preferably so proportioned that one mile of travel of the elevator car will give one complete revolution to the pointer 1G. lThe dial' 17 may be divided up into fractions of a mile such, for example, as tenths and hundredths. The star wheel 19 hasten points with which the pin 15A engages in such a 2 coef/ee manner that for each revolution of the gear pointer which is over the small indicating dial 18 is advanced one tenth of a revolution.

Consequently, the dial 18 is preferably subdivided into ten equal parts and one complete revolution of its pointer will record ten car miles of travel. rl`he mechanisms of the various small indicating dials are connected together by gearing 19A with a tento-one reduction between each so that a revolution of the pointer over the dial 18A registers one hundred car miles of travel; that over dial 18u one thousand miles; that over dial 18C ten thousand miles, and that over dial 18D one hundred thousand car miles. Obviously, the proportions and ratios may be other than those described; :tor example, the various parts may be so arranged that one revolution of the 'pointer 16 will indicate one round trip of the cars'travel so that the small indicating dials will show the total number ofqround trips the car to which the meter is connected has made. Any desired number of dials may be used. With the number of dials herein shown this instrument will register the travel of the car for many years and Will then repeat itself. The pinion 111 is also in mesh with a gear 20 which, through a train of gearing or other suitable mechanism, is arranged to drive a centrifugal actuating mechanism 21 similar to a-Speed governor, but in this case consnected to actuate an indicating pointer 22.

Back of this pointer is a graduated dial Q3 Which is sub-divided into spaces indicating the speed at which the car is ruiming. These graduat-ions are preferablyv made t`o indicate the speed of the car in feet per minute. The faces of the dials on this instrument are perfectly protected by glassI covers as shown in the drawings.

ln Fig. 3 the casing 1() is shown mounted upon a driving or actuating mechanism 30 by means of a bracket 24A. In this; ligure a` recording instrument 25 is shown connected with the speed indicator by means olf a rod 2G which is connected with a pin 27 projecting :from a portion of the speed indicator mechanism. This recording instrument may be of any standard make and is used Whenever it is desired to keep a record of the speed of a car. The actuating'mechanism comprises a drum 31 atlixed to a shaft 82. Ahove'this drum is a fixed shaft 38 upon which a traveling sheave 34 is loosely mounted. The two ends of a driving rope or cable 35 are Wound about the drum 31 in yopposite directions and are ailixed thereto.

The actuating mechanism may be mounted at the top of an elevator shaft as is shown in Figs. 12 and 13. ln such a caseone portion erf the rope 35 may he lcd down to the hot- .tom of the elevator' shaft and under a sheave 51 upon an automatic tension device The other portion of' the rope is carried `from. the drum over the traveling sheavel 31 in the manner shown in Figs. a and l?, land thence down to the tension device 50. The sheave 51 is therefore in a loop in the driving rope At a point intermediate the actuating mechanism and the tension device the driving rope is ailixed to an elevator car as at 36. The function of the actuating mechanism and its connected parts is ohviously to cause any movement of the elevator' car to transmit a rotary motion to the shaft 32, proportional in speed and amount to the speed ot' the car and to the distance through which it travels.

In Fig. 5 a somewhat different arrangement of actuating' mechanism is shown. lfn this case an idle sheave 37 is shown mounted upon ay shaft. Above this a double grooved traction she-ave 38 is secured 'to a driving shaft 32A. In Figs. 141 and 15 the manner in which the driving rope is connected vvith this form of drivnig mechanism is shown. In this case the ends ot the driving rope are spliced or otherwise fastened together so that the rope forms an endless loop. The lower end oi this loop is passed under the sheave 51 on the tension device 50 while the upper portion of the loop is carried up over the traction sheave and under the idle sheave 37. By this arrangement the movement ot the car transmits rotary motion to the shaft Ll() designates z, Continuous motion device which is used between the actluiling` mechanism and the recording instrument. ln Figs. (l, T and 8 thisI device shown sonnwhat in detail. it comprises a casing' 4l which incloscs the various parts ot the apparatus and forms bearings for a yshalt l@ which is i these two hevehg'cars and atlixcd to the shaft l2 by a .kc-v fl2^ is a spider w17 which carries upon a series otl spring arms 48 a plurality oi pawls i9 which are adapted to eno'age with the ratchet-tectli 4-t^ and -'i(3^. lhe operation ot' this device is as follows: `il/vhenever the shaft 42 is rotated in one direction ,i

or the other, its motion will he transmitted to the spider 47. lt this rotation is in one direction the pawls ou one side ot the spider will engage with the ratchet teeth on the iuner face oli the hevel-geai on that side and will caiise this motion to be transmitted to the shaft 48 in one direction. lt' the shaft 42 and the spider 47 are rotated iii the opposite direction the pawls which perform the function which is described will now pass freely bythe ratchet teeth on the bevel-gear on that side of the spider, but the pawls on theothei side of the spider will engage with the ratchet teeth on theother bevel-gear, and the movement of the spider will be transl i'nitted to the shaft 43 by these pawls. Consequently, the rotation ef the shaft 43 will always be in the same direction regardless of ythe direction of rotation of the shaftl 42 and its connected spider 47.

In `Fig. 8 I have shown that the series of `pawls 49 on one side of the spider are placed midway between the series of pawls on the other side of the spider. This arrangement is i iade so that whenever the rotationof the spider vis reversed, one or the other of the bevel-gears'will be caught by these pawls and rotated thereby with butv little lest motion. In the: drawings there are four aims of the Spider 4T`shown. .'It is obvious that this number of arms may be increased and that the greater the 4number of arms with the pawls which they support, the will be the lost motion caused by reversing the rotation of the spider. lt is to benoted that the casing inelosing this apparatus is so constructed that it may be partly filled with oil so that this mechanism may be freely lubricated at all times thereby. Figs` Sand 10 show a modification of the construction of the mechanism of the con'- tinuous motion device. In this ease the bevel-gears 4413 and 46B are connected together as-befoi.'e by the bevel-gear 45, but the inner faces ofy the two vertical gears are plain flat surfaces. The spider 47A which is secured to the shaft 42 as before is.` however, of a different construction. In this case` its outer surfaces are carried outI to a position adjacent to those of the inner faces ,of the vertical gears. In these surfaces of the spider holes 49^ are drilled obliquely iu an opposite direction on the two surfaces of the spider. A. ball 45) placed within each of theseholes and is' pressed outward by a spring 49C acting upon ,an intermediate washer 49D.. The operation of this arrangement is similar to that described in conjunction with the iirst form of this mechanism, except that in this case the balls 4.0 perform the function which was formerly described in conjunction with the pawls 4t). The angle at which the holes 49ffare drilled is lessgthan the angle of friction between the surfaces with which the balls contact. lt is apparent then that whenever the spider 47A is rotated inone direction the balls which l have provided in the holes on one of its surfaces will lock the spider andthe bevel-gear which is adjacent to this surface together while the balls on the other side will be pushed back' slightly and will not perform any function. Similarly, when the opposite rotation is given to the spider 47A the balls upon the other side will engage with the other bevelgear and cause the latter to move with the spider. Consequently, the direction of rotation of the sha ft 455 will always be the same regardless 0f the direction of rotation of the shaft .ts'inay be seen from Fig. 3, this continiious motion device is interposed between the actuating mechanism and the registering and indicating` instrument so that the rotation of the shaft 32 of the actuating deviee is transmitted through the continuous motion device to the registering and indicating instrun'ient, but its directie-n of rotation is rectified or made unidirectional. The various parts 'of the registerineinstrument therefore always rotate in one direction.

The tension device 50ris illustrated somewhat fully in Figs. 17, 18 and 19. In these gures 52 designates a stationary frame closed at the top and bottom and constructed to form a pair of vertical guide-rails 53, 53. A portion of each of these guidesrails may be arranged to form ratchet-teeth 54. A traveling cross-head 55 is iadapted to tit within this frame and to move up and down over the guides. Pivoted pawls 56, 56 on either side of this cross-hea d are arranged to engage with the ratchet-teeth 54. The pivots for these pawls are so placed in respect to the center of gravity of the pawls that the latter always have a tendency to swing outward into engagement with the ratchet-teeth. Thus they lock` the cross-head against upward movement. But thelupper surfaces of the part of the guides which forms the ratchet-teeth will push the pawls back within the cross-head whenever the latter is moved downward. The purpose, therefore, of the ratchet-teeth and. pawlS is to lock the cross-head against upward movement without interfering with its moving freely downward. 57 designates a frame within which is pivoted the shgeare A rod 58 extends downward from this frame through the cross-head and supports one or more weights 59. These weights exert a. downward pull upon the sheave 51 and have a tendency to take up any slack which may be in the driving rope Between the upper surface of "these weights 59 and the cross-head 55 one rorfn'iore compression springs such as 59 are provided. This, acting between the two partseibove mentioned, increases the effect of the weights upon the tension of the driv-v ing rope 1t may be seen that the crosshead Iwill Abe supported by this spring. lVhencver the driving ropes stretch sutliciently to lower the positionof the sheave 51 and its connected parts, itwill allow the cross-head to drop down until its pawlsengage with one of the ratchetfteetli,r which will then prevent any upward movement of the cross-head. f'i`he weights 59, however, through the intervention ot the spring 59A, will allow more or less Huctuation ot the position of the shcave 51 due to sudden strain coming upon the driving rope without atleeting the position of the cross-head.

in Fig. 2O a modification of the holding pawls is shown. In this case the cross-head 55" is provided with obliquely disposed slots in which sliding pawl men'ibers 56A are proc vided. The bottoms of the slots are constructed with stops which limit the downvard movement of' the pawl members. lit may be seen that when the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in the drawings7 the cross-head is positively held against upward movement by the pawl member engaging with one ot the ratchet-teeth and being seated againstthe `stop at the bottom of its slot. lit is also evident that this arrangement permits a free downward movc ment of the cross-head.

Fig. 21 illustrates a still further modification of holding device for the cross-head. The cross-head 55B in this ease is provided with an opening opposite. to the guide-rail 53, with an inclined surface. A. ball or roller 56I3 is placed in each'one of these openings between the inclined surface and the 'tace of the guide. The inclination is such that any tendency to raise the crosshead 55B will cause the ball or'roller 56B to be wedged between the face of the guides and the oblique surface and prevent upward .ovement of the cross-head. then the cross-head is moved downward, however, the ball or roller 5GB will have no such eifect'butwill allow the parts to pass each other freely.

The tension device which l have above described may be applied to other uses than that in connection with my registering and indicating instrument, such, for example, as for keeping the speed governor actuating ropes et elevators taut. It it is found in practice that, the ratchet-teeth a're too great a distance apart7 parallel sets ot ratchet-teeth with their points staggered may be used instead of a single set of ratchet-teeth on each side ot the erosshead.

Ihave illustrated several modifications of the varlous parts of my apparatus to show that l do not confine myself to any specific :term or construction. A 1 have also shown several ways in which the apparatus may be connected with an elevator ear. All but one-of the arrangements which have described provide For placing the indicating and registering device at the top of the elevator hatchway, although, of course, by slightly changing the arrangement ot' the parts, the instrument znaylbe placed at the lower portion of the eleavator hatchway or other desired location. In Fig. 16 l'. have shown an arrangeeaaffee ment whereby the instrument may be placed upon the car itself. In this case the driving rope 35 is affixed to a point above the travel of the car with its lower end directly affixed to the frame 57 of the tension device. Upon a side of the ear two sheaves 37A and 38'` are placed which correspond in function to the arrangement of the sheaves 37 and 38 previously described.

It is desirable to have the continuous motion device placed, as I have shown it, intermediate the actuating mechanism and the. indicating` and registering apparatus. rlhis is because any given amount of lost motion which may taire place in the continuous mo` tion device will have its ettect upon the shaft 11 before the motion is reduced through the worm-gear 12 and the gear 13 with which it engages, thereby minimizing any error in the result which might occur from such lost motion.

The meter and indicator together with its associated parts are applicable to other structures than elevators and may be used to cumnlatively record the distance of travel and also to indicate and record the. speed of any body having reciprocatory movement.

Whenever the apparatus is applied to an elevator, the gears and other parts may be proportioned to properly register and record the performance of any type of elevator. Instead ot' using the connections between the elevator car and the other parts of the apparatus, my apparat-us may be connected with any moving part of the elevator such,I for example, as the overhead sheaves, or with an ordinary governor rope which is connected to run with the car.

What I claim is.-

1. The combination of ari elevator cal', a stationary actuating mechanism', a rope `connecting the actuating mechanism with the car, a meter, and intermediate mechanism connecting the meter with the actuating mechanism.

2. The combination of an elevator car, a stationary actuating mechanism. a meter connected therewithv` a rope connecting the actuating mechanism with the car, and means for maintaining said rope under tension.

3. ln combination with an elevator car, an actuating mechanism arranged to change the reciprocatory motion of the car into reversing rotary motion, a rope connecting the actuating mechanism with the car, a meter, and intermediate mechanism connecting the meter with the actuating mechanism, said intermediate meel'lanisrii heilig arranged to transmit the rotary movement of the actuating mechanism in either direction to the meter with a unidirectional rdtary motion.

4. In combinatimi with an elevator car, an actuating n'uarhanism arranged to change the reciprocatory mot-ion of the car into reversing rotary motion, a rope connecting the Aintermediate mechanism being arranged to transmit the rotary movementof the actiiating- -mechanism in either direction tof the meter with a unidirectional rotary motion.

in combination with an elevator ca r, an actuating mechanism comprising a. rotatable drum, a rope connecting said drum with the car, an instrument havin'g a plurality of dials tor cumulatiif'ely registering the dis-A tance of travel of the car, said instrument also having centrit'ugally governed mechanism for indicating the speed of the car, a recording apparatus, connected with said mechanism, and a continuous motion device comprisine` a revcrsibly rotating member, a shaft, and means for transmitting unidirectional rotation from said member to the shaft, said rotating member being connected with the actuating mechanism and said shaft being connected with the instrument.

G. In combination with an elevator car, a meter, an actuating mechanism, a rope connecting the actuating mechanism with ,the 'ar, a driving rope connecting the actuating mechanism with the car, an idle sheave in the driving rope, a weight and a spring pulling the sheave in one direction, and intermediate mechanism connecting the meter with the actuating mechanisni.

7. ln combination with an elevator car, an actuatingmechanism arranged to change the reciprocatory motion o't the car into reversing rotary motion, a driving rope connecting the actuating` mecninisni with the zar, an idle sheave in the driving rope, a weight and a spring pulling the, shea ve in one, direction, a movable cross-head against which said spring acts, means rfor preventing the move,- ment ot the cross-head in one direction; a meter, intermediate mechanisn'i connecting the meter with' the actuating mechanism, said intermediate mechanism being arranged to transmit, thc reversing rotary movement of the actuating mechanism to the meter in a unidirectional rotary motion.

8. ln combination with an elevator ear, an actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable drum, a driving rope connecting said drum with the car, a weighted sheave in the driving rope, an instrument having a plurality of dials tor cumulatively registering the distance of travel of the car, said instrument also having a centritugally governed mechanisin for imlicating'the speed ot the. ear, a contiinious motion device comprising reversing gears, a reversible rotating member between said gears, means t'or engaging said member with one ot the gears when said member rotates in one directhm, and with the other gear when the member rotates in the other direction; said ctmtinuous motion device being between the instrument and the actuating mechanism.

9. In combination with an elevator car, an

actuating mechanism comprising a rotatabledrum, a driving rope affixed to said drum and connected with the car, an idlev sheave in -the driving rope, a Weight and a spring pulling` the sheave in one direction, a movable cross-head against which said spring actsffmeans for preventing movement of the crosshead lin one direction; an instrument having a pluralityv of dials tor cumulativelki7 registering the distance ot travel of the car, said instrument also having ccntrifugally governed mechanism for indicating the speed 'yet' the car, and a continuous motion device connecting the said instrument with the 'actuating mechanism, said continuous motion device comprising reversing gears, a reversible rotating member between said gears, ratchet and pawl mechanism. for engaging said member with `one of the gears when said member rotates in one direction, and with the other gear when the member rotates in the other direction.

10. 'In combination with an elevator car, an actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable drum, a driving rope attixed' to said drum and connected with the car, an automatic tension device for said rope, said tension device comprising an idle sheave in the driving rope. a weight and a spring pulling the sheave in one direction, a movable cross-head against which said spring acts, guides t'or the cross-head, ratchet and pawl mechanism allowing the cross-head to travel in the direction against the action of the spring but preventing it "com moving in the opposite direction; an instrument having a plurality ot dials tor cumulatively registering the distance ot' travel otf the car, said inst rnment, also having centri'tugally governed mechanism tor indicating the speed ot the car, a recording apparatus connected with said speed indicating mechanism, and a continuous motion device connecting said instrument with the actuatingmechanism,said continuous motion device comprising reversing gears, a reversible.rotating member between said gears, ratchet| and pawl mechanism tor engaging said member with one oi" the gears when said member rotates in one direction, and with the other gear when the member rotates in the other direction` thereby imparting ay unidirectional rotary motion to the inst rmnent.

Il. lin combination with a. body having a reciprocatory movement ot travel, a stationarv mechanism having a rotary sha ft, a i'o'pe connecting said mechanism with 'said body and arranged to cause thc movement of' the bodv to rotate said sha 't, an idle sheave in engagement with said rope, means for moving said sheavc in onfdircction to maintain the rope under tension, a de: for 4preventing 'the movemenl of the shee've in ffneopposite ireetion, and a, resiiientY connection between the Sheave and Said device.

l2. In combination. with an elevator-ear, a. sationary mechanism having a, rotary shaft, :L driving rope connecting saicl mechanism with 'the cai' and arranged to enlise the travel of the ear no rotate seid eiwit, an idle sheeve engagement with the driving rope, a Weight and e spring :ii-ranged to pull the Sheave in one direction te maintain Said fone new,

under tension, a movable cross-head against which said spring niets, and means for preventing the. movement of the cross-head in one direction. y Y.

In testimony whereof l' have signed my name to this speoication in the presence of .two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES L. DUENKEL. Witnesses ELLA LUCE, ERNEST WV. MARSHALL. 

